Building Thinkers: Accessible Blueprints for Learning & Life – Détails, épisodes et analyse

I’m joined by Said Saddouk to dive into one of my 12 favorite problems: “How might we increase flow and creativity to bring joy to work?”

Said is a virtual facilitation expert who transforms online sessions from dull and disengaging to impactful and inspiring. With his expert training, practical techniques, and passion for connecting with his audience, Said helps facilitators, educators, and team leaders unlock the full potential of virtual learning spaces.

In our conversation, we explore the themes of joy, creativity, and innovation in the workplace, especially in virtual settings. We talk about the importance of finding joy in work, the journey to creativity, and how to create a playful and engaging environment in meetings.

Said shares his insights on the definition of creativity, the power of childlike play, and practical tools for making virtual meetings more engaging. Our chat emphasizes the value of community, collaboration, and the continuous pursuit of joy and creativity in professional settings.

Key Takeaways:

Alpacas and llamas are different animals 😂

Childlike play can enhance creativity and innovation

Engagement in meetings can be improved with playful elements

Virtual meetings can be transformed with simple tools and techniques

Small changes can lead to significant improvements in meetings

Resources Mentioned: 

100 Tricks to Sound Smart in Meetings by Sarah Cooper: https://amzn.to/3ObwvK2 

Workshops.Work: ⁠https://workshops.work/podcast/⁠

Star Talk: ⁠https://startalkmedia.com/⁠ 

Butter Referral Link: https://butter.cello.so/X5aVOOcce9Z

People to Follow:

Cat Mulvihill: linkedin.com/in/mulvihillcatherine , youtube.com/@CatMulvihill

Anamaria Dorgo: linkedin.com/in/anamariadorgo

Jan Keck: linkedin.com/in/jankeck , youtube.com/@mrjankeck

Myriam Hadnes: linkedin.com/in/myriam-hadnes , youtube.com/@myriamhadnes

Thomas Lahnthaler: linkedin.com/in/thomaslahnthaler

Olina Glindevi: linkedin.com/in/thevisualagilecoach

Connect with Said: 

This conversation with Dr. Gina Sipley stretched me in the best kind of way.

In this episode, we dig into one of my twelve favorite problems: How might we create space for mindset shifts in learning experiences? Gina is a community college professor, a first-generation college graduate, and someone who’s deeply committed to building inclusive spaces where people can explore how texts (both online and offline) shape who we are.

We talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention: lurking in online spaces. You know, the quiet observing, the not-posting, the watching from the sidelines. We explore what it means for learning, how it can be both helpful and harmful, and what it looks like to engage meaningfully, especially when perfectionism and fear are holding people back.

This episode is about making room. Room for mindset shifts. Room for silent learners. Room for diverse voices. And room for a more mindful relationship with social media that allows us to curate instead of just consume.

Key Takeaways:

Resources Mentioned:

Books: 

https://amzn.to/48uTXva

Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Bias by Safiya Umoja Noble https://amzn.to/48uy7Ie

Country of the Blind: A Memoir At The End of Sight by Andrew Leland

https://amzn.to/3YLj3Tb

Trolling Ourselves to Death: Democracy in the Age of Social Media by Jason Hannan

https://amzn.to/40uCl0G

Podcasts:

You’re Wrong About https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youre-wrong-about/id1380008439

The Measure of Everyday Life https://measureradio.net/

Transforming Society https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/transforming-society-podcast/

Connect with Gina: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsipley/

Newsletter: https://www.ginasipley.com/ 

More About Gina:

I am a great resource for lurking and social media strategy, all things community college and the K-16 pipeline. I particularly love supporting first generation college students. 

I am interested in problem solving at scale and I welcome speaking and consulting opportunities. 

I would love to connect with other folks who bridge scholarly and creative pursuits for social good.

More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

If your team feels overwhelmed or disconnected, the problem might be cultural, not operational.

I sit down with Alma Quiroga to unpack how we might bring impactful order out of chaos. And wow, this conversation is one that made me completely rethink how stories shape the way we lead.

Alma shares her journey of challenging traditional business norms and building people-first organizational cultures. We talk about the quiet power of storytelling, not just as a leadership skill, but as the foundation of how culture is created and how behavior is shaped from the inside out.

We explore what it means to recognize and work with the stories that already exist within your team, and how to create environments where people can thrive, not in spite of chaos, but through it.

If you’re a leader navigating change, culture shifts, or just craving more meaning in the way your organization operates, this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

Storytelling is deeply ingrained in human nature and is how we relate to each other.

Our brains are wired to make sense of the world through storytelling, and humans naturally order the chaos of the world and their own internal world in a story format.

Understanding how humans make sense through story is essential for effective communication and change management in organizations.

By recognizing the power of storytelling and creating spaces for collective storytelling, organizations can co-create their culture and navigate transitions more successfully.

Resources Mentioned:

Books:

Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins by Annette Simmons: https://amzn.to/4cqFq56

The Story Factor by Annette Simmons: https://amzn.to/4eGiwrQ

The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human by Jonathan Gotsschall https://amzn.to/3xrXCvT

Organizational Culture and Leadership by Edgar Schein: https://amzn.to/4bE0NPb

Humble Leadership, Second Edition: The Power of Relationships, Openness, and Trust by Edgar Schein: ⁠https://amzn.to/3VMfWb0

Managing Transitions by: William Bridges & Susan Bridges https://amzn.to/3znNPaN

Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used by Peter Block: https://amzn.to/4cCf8MI

Podcasts:

Beautiful Questions Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TuliandAlma

Work Life Podcast: https://adamgrant.net/podcasts/work-life/

Radio Ambulante: https://radioambulante.org/en

Invisibilia: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510307/invisibilia

Connect with Alma: 

Website: www.almaquiroga.com

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, distracted, or like you’re just going through the motions, this episode is for you.

I’m chatting with Shani Persson, co-founder of Wonder, about what it means to "be where your feet are.” We unpack what being truly present looks like, not just as a buzzword, but as a way of living and working that honors us as whole human beings with brains, bodies, and lives.

We dive into why it’s so hard to stay connected to ourselves in today’s nonstop world, and how self-awareness and self-inquiry can help us create work and life experiences that actually feel meaningful. We also talk about the power and challenge of saying no, and why listening to ourselves is a radical act of care.

Key Takeaways: 

Recognize the importance of being present and enjoying the process, rather than constantly striving for the next thing.

Learn to say no and set boundaries to maintain energy and focus. The facade of control can lead to addictive behaviors and a constant need for dopamine hits.

The awareness of mortality can awaken us to what truly matters in life and help us reevaluate our priorities.

Being present and letting go of urgency can bring more joy and clarity to our lives.

Resources Mentioned: 

Essentialism by Greg McKeown https://amzn.to/4bhrk4F

Connect with Shani: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanipersson/

Wonder: https://www.justwonder.co/ 

More About Building Thinkers: 

I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.

And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.

If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

What if the voice in your head that’s holding you back isn’t actually you?

In this episode of Building Thinkers, I’m talking with Sara Huang about how to rewrite those limiting beliefs that keep us stuck.

Sara is an expert facilitator and designer who works with creative conflict resolution and collaboration. We dive into practical ways to identify and change those mental patterns, including concepts like “edge figures” and why creating safe spaces for growth is so essential.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by self-doubt or stuck in old stories, this conversation offers fresh tools and hope to help you rewrite your inner narrative and open up new possibilities.

Key Takeaways: 

Create space for self-reflection and connection to rewrite limiting beliefs and build a brighter future.

Shift limiting beliefs by understanding their energy and using it to propel yourself towards new possibilities.

Starting with what resonates (sparks interest), moving to imitation (practicing and experimenting), and finally reaching creation (applying and innovating in one's unique context).

Resources Mentioned:

Finding Your Way: https://www.findingourwaypodcast.com/individual-episodes/s2e3

On Being: https://onbeing.org/series/podcast/

Lessons from Courageous Child by Sara Huang - https://buymeacoffee.com/sarahuang/e/71071

The Power Manual by Cindy Suarez - https://amzn.to/4bSoWC8

Holding Change by Adrienne Maree Brown - https://amzn.to/3R3Mmwk

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - https://amzn.to/3R8F2j3 

Beyond the Wall of Resistance by Rick Maurer - https://amzn.to/3KoJjLh

Other Resources:

https://app.7taps.com/av9kFaO3IR

https://www.conflicttransformationsummit.org/www.conflicttransformationsummit.org/stage-2.html 

https://communityresourcehub.org/resources/turning-towards-each-other-a-conflict-workbook/

https://ariseembodiment.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/So-youre-ready-to-choose-love-workbook-19.pdf

Connect with Sara:

Website: ⁠www.bento.me/sarahuang⁠

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huangsara

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bureautwist

More About Building Thinkers: 

I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.

And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.

If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

In this episode of the Building Thinkers podcast, Tracy interviews Paula Amiama about one of her twelve favorite problems: How might we increase flow & and creativity to bring joy to work?

Over the last decade, Paula worked across marketing, the arts, sustainability, innovation, and education. She’s had stops in start-ups, non-profits, and large corporate organizations.

Currently, Paula leads the global Skilling & Learning agenda at DB Schenker, a large logistics company. Paula’s deep and wide expertise from her self-proclaimed non-linear career path, experiences, and clear life-long learning brought such powerful and unique insights in our conversation.

Tracy and Paula discuss the importance of creating flow and autonomy in work, as well as strategies for shifting perspectives to find flow. They emphasize the need to protect time and set clear agendas to prioritize flow and creativity. The conversation highlights the role of leaders in supporting and prioritizing flow for their teams.

Takeaways

• Embrace non-linear career paths: Explore diverse interests to discover what resonates most deeply with you.
• Prioritize reflection and journaling: Gain clarity on your true desires and motivations for greater focus.
• Protect time for deep work: Schedule uninterrupted blocks for focused, creative activities that energize you.
• Leaders: Foster flow through reflection: Find fulfillment in your role and create a positive work environment by prioritizing deep thinking.
• Flow and autonomy boost motivation: Enhance productivity and job satisfaction by creating space for flow and individual choice in work.

Paula's Recommendations:

Books:

Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Podcasts:

Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin

We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle

School of Embodied Arts with Jenna Ward

Connect with Paula: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulaamiama/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulaamiama/ 

Substack: https://paulaamiama.substack.com/ 

In this episode, Tracy is joined by Lily Higgins, the founder of The Intervention Bureau, a learning experience design consultancy where she partners with agencies and thought-leaders to design signature sessions fueling her crusade against boring, ineffective workshops. They discuss the importance of creating space for mindset shift within learning experiences and the role of facilitation as an act of love. Lily shares insights on the power of play and the concept of life as a game. They also explore her signature “Serendipity Walk” experience. The conversation highlights the transformative potential of experiences and the importance of autonomy and ownership in learning.

Key Takeaways: 

• Facilitation is an act of love. Facilitators hold space for groups to tap into their collective wisdom and create something greater than the sum of their parts.

• Autonomy is crucial for mindset shifts. Learners need to feel ownership over their learning journeys to integrate new ideas and make meaningful changes.

• Life is a game, and we can redesign it. Game Thinking helps us see the world as a series of games with rules, roles, goals, time, space, and objects. We can change our behavior and shift systems by tweaking any of these elements. Instead of focusing solely on changing people's mindsets, we can look for ways to redesign the game itself.

Links & Recommendations:

Books: 

The Power of Moments by Chip & Dan Heath: https://amzn.to/4cT75MB 

The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker: https://amzn.to/3UkmpdM

Free Play: Improvisation in Art & Life by Stephen Nachmanovitch: https://amzn.to/3Jjahn0

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell: https://amzn.to/49UMvc5 

Connect with Lily: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-higgins-980519b8/

The Intervention Bureau: www.theinterventionbureau.com

Book a 90-min experience design consultation with Lily: https://calendly.com/lilyhiggins/experience-design-consultation

In this episode, Tracy and Hannah discuss the importance of being present and intentional in our lives. They explore the impact of conditioned beliefs and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. The conversation highlights the need to be fully present in each moment (be where your feet are) and the consequences of not doing so. 

They talk about the practice of mindfulness through meditation and how it can lead to a life of peace and fulfillment and they discuss the obstacles to mindfulness, such as fear and the desire for safety and familiarity. They emphasize the importance of taking aligned actions and finding sustainability in growth and action. 

Takeaways

• Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention on purpose in the present moment, non-judgmentally.

• Practicing mindfulness through meditation helps to exercise the mindfulness muscle and live a life of peace and fulfillment.

• Being fully present in the moment amplifies happiness and reduces ruminations about the past and anxiety about the future.

• Taking aligned actions and finding sustainability in growth and action are key to living a fulfilled life.

Hanna’s Recommendations: 

Books:

Frequency by Penny Pierce https://amzn.to/4ayHOW8

The Inner Matrix by Joey Klein https://amzn.to/3U1WzLx

The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer https://amzn.to/3TKhZLU

Podcasts

The Expanded Podcast

Where Should We Begin?

The Michael Singer Podcast

Find Hanna:

Soultrustignite.com

https://www.instagram.com/soultrustignite/

In this episode of Building Thinkers Tracy interviews T. Mark Meyer, author of "The Art of Being Authentic." They dive deep into creating space for powerful mindset shifts that transform your learning and life experiences. They cover the following topics:

• Discovering your purpose: Uncover what truly drives you and learn to express it authentically.
• Confidence vs. self-esteem: Understand the key differences and their impact on your journey.
• Leading with authenticity: Explore how to be a more genuine and impactful leader.
• Redefining success in education: Move beyond traditional measures and create a more meaningful path.
• Staying true to yourself: Learn practical tools to stay aligned with your purpose, even when it's challenging.

This episode is your guide to the ongoing adventure of authenticity. Join the conversation and discover a fresh perspective on connecting with your true self.

For more information, check out the resources T. Mark shared below:

Books

The Art of Being Authentic by T. Mark Meyer https://amzn.to/3PwgPCu

Dare to Lead by Brene Brown https://amzn.to/3Pvze2f

True North by Bill George https://amzn.to/3Pvze2f

Socials

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troelsmarkmeyer/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authentictmarkmeyer/

In this episode, Tracy interviews Jonathan Butterworth about the power of habits and how they can be used to improve various aspects of life.

Jonathan shares his background as an entrepreneur and his experience in building people and teams. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the desired outcomes before implementing habits and making necessary sacrifices.

Jonathan also discusses the balance between hustle and rest, and the need to align goals and habits. He provides insights on maintaining focus in a distracted world and shares his approach to creating content and managing time effectively.

For more information, check out the resources Jonathan shared below:

Books

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius https://amzn.to/495qOoU

Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani https://amzn.to/493YWld

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson https://amzn.to/4cpuQvq

Podcasts

Lex Fridman Podcast https://lexfridman.com/podcast/

The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes https://lewishowes.com/sogpodcast/

Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett https://stevenbartlett.com/the-diary-of-a-ceo-podcast/

Socials

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanbutterworth/